No Trees, Yet Called a 'Stone Forest': Shilin's Astonishing Landscape Formed Over 270 Million Years
The Shilin Stone Forest in China's Yunnan province is a striking example of how varied landscapes shaped by nature can be. From a distance, it looks as if rows of trees stand across a vast area. Up close, it becomes clear they are not trees at all, but enormous rocks rising toward the sky.
The stone forest lies about 120 kilometres southeast of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province. Kunming is known as the 'City of Eternal Spring' for its mild weather. Travelling by road from that city to Shilin reveals a vast rocky world far removed from the usual idea of a green forest.
In places there are narrow pillars, in others rocks like notched walls, and some stone shapes resemble people or animals and birds. This variety sets Shilin apart from other natural attractions.
Shilin's rocky landscape formed through a long geological process. According to scientists, about 270 million years ago this region was a marine environment. Limestone deposited on the seabed later took various shapes under crustal changes, water and erosion.
As this process continued over a long period, it created tall stone pillars, narrow paths and maze-like formations. In other words, today's 'forest' is the result of hundreds of millions of years of natural change.
The rocks vary greatly in height and shape. Some are a few metres tall, while others rise to nearly 40 metres. The grey stones take on a deep brown hue when wet with rain, and the shadows formed in their grooves then make the landscape even more dramatic.
Shilin's history is tied to a folk tale about a young woman named Ashima. Known in the culture of the local Sani people, the tale speaks of Ashima's love, family opposition and sorrow.
According to the legend, Ashima fell in love with a young man from another area, but family objections prevented their relationship from being fulfilled. In deep grief, Ashima turned to stone, and rock after rock rose beside her, as if refusing to leave her alone.
One rock formation in Shilin is locally associated with Ashima. From a distance it resembles a young woman standing with cloth tied on her head and a basket on her back. It is part of the local people's folk beliefs and cultural heritage.
Ashima's story is also part of the cultural identity of the local Sani people. Around June 24 each year, the traditional Torch Festival is celebrated, featuring folk dances, wrestling, bullfighting and various folk events.
The Shilin Stone Forest is a large geomorphological region. Its notable parts include the Lizijing Stone Forest, the Naigu Stone Forest, Zhiyun Cave, Chang Lake, Yue Lake, the Dadieshui waterfall and Qifeng Cave, each with its own geomorphological character.
In 2007, several parts of Shilin were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List as part of the South China Karst landscape, giving the site's geological importance international recognition.
There are designated walking paths for exploring Shilin. Moving through narrow lanes between huge rocks, visitors may feel stone walls closing in from both sides, while elsewhere the path opens onto broad rows of stone pillars. In many places, the same landscape looks different from different directions because of the rocks' shapes and positions.
Electric vehicles are also available for touring certain parts of the area, though walking is considered better for seeing the rock formations up close.
Shilin's distinctiveness lies in its rock formations as much as in its hundreds of millions of years of geological history. Local legend, Sani culture and nature's long transformation make this rocky region of China a rare natural heritage.
